In Church law (specifically, Canon 215) the Christian faithful are free to found associations for the purpose of charity, piety or the promotion of Christian vocations. This canon is derived from the documents of Vatican II.
Canon 298 expands these purposes to include the promotion of a more perfect life, public worship and works of the apostolate. Associations are not an end in themselves, but serve the mission of the Church, and Church authority has a legitimate role in guiding its use. Canon 300 requires consent by a competent authority for an association to use the name "Catholic."
A right of an association is that of promoting apostolic enterprises, such as publishers, clinics, educational centers, radio or television stations, etc. The right includes that of founding them, of participating in those that already exist, and of statutory and administrative independence.
Canon 215 also states the right to have meetings of the association, but the canon does not specifically include the right to use parish or diocesan property to hold meetings. Without specific policies, prudence is required in each case.
Editor's note: This series about the rights and obligations of the Christian faithful, as set forth in canon (Church) law, has been written especially for the Catholic News Herald by Mercy Sister Jeanne-Margaret McNally. Sister Jeanne-Margaret is a distinguished authority on canon law, author of the reference guide "Canon Law for the Laity," and frequent lecturer at universities and dioceses. A graduate of The Catholic University of America with multiple degrees including a doctorate in psychology and a licentiate of canon law (JCL), she is a psychologist